Researchers may have found a crucial link in understanding whether photosynthesis or aerobic metabolism evolved first. An accidental discovery of a molecule, methyl-plastoquinone, in a nitrogen-utilizing bacterium led to insights that suggest a connection between the ability to produce and consume oxygen. Felix Elling, who led the research, emphasized that this discovery occurred during a separate screening process and accidentally revealed the evolutionary relationship between these vital processes.
“Right from the start we had this idea that this might be related to the evolution of photosynthesis and the ability to breathe oxygen,” said Felix Elling.”
“We were screening bacteria for a completely different project,” said Elling, who is now on the faculty at the University of Kiel in Germany.”
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